Sasha High MD FRCPC
Dr. Sasha High is the Founder and CEO of the High Metabolic Clinic. She was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. She first undertook a Bachelor of Sciences from the University of Ottawa then completed her medical doctorate (MD) and Internal Medicine residency (FRCPC) at the University of Toronto. She is certified as an American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) diplomate and holds a Lecturer appointment with the University of Toronto. Dr. High has been practicing bariatric medicine since 2013.
Dr. High has a special interest in nutrition and mindset. She is a huge proponent of personal development and loves empowering people to thrive in their life by transforming from the inside out. She is a certified Life Coach from The Life Coach School, and has additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT).
You can find her online on Youtube and Instagram, or listen to her on the High on Life Podcast.
Dr. High is a wife and mother of three young children. In her spare time, she enjoys running with 3 kids in one stroller and kitesurfing with her husband.
Sharon Sadry MD FRCPC
Dr. Sadry is an Endocrinologist who is passionate about combining her expertise in the endocrine system with her interest in mindset coaching to manage chronic disease, motivating patients to live their most healthy life.
Dr. Sadry completed her undergraduate, medical degree and Internal Medicine training at the University of Toronto. She went on to complete her fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Toronto where she served as Chief Resident. Subsequently she went on to pursue a Masters in Healthcare Quality from Queen's University. She has published in the area of obesity in Nature Reviews Endocrinology.
In her free time, Dr. Sadry focuses on building meaningful connections with her friends and family. She loves to spend time outdoors in nature, to stay active, and to explore music, food and culture. She is in a choir of female physicians. Her two young children keep her on her toes and are a constant reminder to appreciate all of life's beauty, big and small.
She is excited to provide virtual care at the High Metabolic Clinic, helping patients reach their goals.
Navreet Deol MD FRCPC
Dr. Deol is a board certified Endocrinologist with an interest in managing metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Ottawa and her Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship at Dalhousie University.
She devotes her work to preventing chronic disease, and minimizing chronic disease complications through identifying and encouraging healthy behaviours for her patients to adopt. She has undertaken additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help patients embark upon behavioural changes so they can achieve their best weight. Her goal is to support patients on their journey to achieve their healthiest and happiest version of themselves.
Dr. Deol passionately educates other health care professionals, including family physicians, through speaking engagements and presentations. She also enjoys mentoring medical students, and currently provides mentorship through the Ontario Medical Students Association.
In her free time, she’s happiest when spending quality time with her family and friends. She also loves the Canadian outdoors. You can find her exploring and hiking new trails and biking in her spare time.
Nathalie Ranger MD CCFP (AM) ABOM
Dr. Nathalie Ranger is a primary care physician providing psychotherapy to support sustained lifestyle change in treatment of obesity and related metabolic conditions. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Western University, and subsequently earned her medical doctorate (MD) at McMaster University. She completed her family medicine residency at Queen’s University, followed by an addiction medicine fellowship in the University of Toronto PGY3 Enhanced Skills program. She is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, with a Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine (CCFP (AM)). Dr. Ranger is also a staff physician in the Addiction Medicine Service at Homewood Health Centre.
Following her passion for mental health, goal-oriented behaviour change, and pursuit of a meaningful, healthy lifestyle, Dr. Ranger has expanded her practice to utilize psychotherapeutic techniques to support sustainable lifestyle change. She has gained valuable knowledge through obesity medicine mentorships and ongoing medical education. She is certified as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and experimenting with nutritious baking recipes.
Jennifer Fink MD FRCPC
Dr. Jennifer Fink is a psychiatrist who specializes in psychotherapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in Life Science at Queen’s University and then completed her medical doctorate and psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto.
She has an online private practice where she integrates evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, mindfulness, psychodynamic therapy and medication management. She has done research in the area of burnout and spirituality in medicine and is passionate about providing a comprehensive approach to patient care.
Dr. Fink is a mom of 2 and loves to spend time with her family and to focus on health, wellness and personal development.
Sheliza Lalani MD MPH ABIM
Dr. Sheliza Lalani is a board certified Endocrinologist and Internist with an interest in diabetes, obesity and nutrition.
She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She has a Masters of Public Health from Boston University where her thesis focused on the impact of nutrition on chronic disease and food security. She was born and raised in Toronto and is excited to be practicing back at home.
She has taken additional courses including the Yale Happiness Course and training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help her patients achieve their best life.
She enjoys spending her free time with family and close friends. You can also find Sheliza out for a run, slowing down with her yoga practice or curled up on the couch catching up with her latest book club selection.
Catherine Barrett MD FRCPC
Dr. Barrett is a board-certified Endocrinologist. Originally from Ottawa, Dr. Barrett completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences at Western University. She met her husband, now a practicing family physician, while completing her medical doctorate (MD) at the University of Ottawa. She happily moved back to London, Ontario to complete her Internal medicine training (FRCPC) and fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Western University.
Dr. Barrett has been seeing patients in her community Endocrine practice since 2017 where she discovered a passion for helping patients make meaningful and sustainable behavior changes. Early on she realized that many of her patient referrals were experiencing symptoms and/or complications from untreated obesity as a chronic disease. In order to support her patients better, Dr. Barrett has pursued additional training in the area of Acceptance Commitment Therapy.
In her spare time, she is busy with her two young children exploring new parks and trails. With two picky eaters, Dr. Barrett understands the challenge of meal time. She enjoys physical fitness and aims to incorporate movement into her daily schedule.
Dr. Barrett is excited to join the High Metabolic Clinic where she will be providing virtual care to patients with elevated weight and obesity.
Andrea Rowe MD FACEP
Dr. Andrea Rowe is a board certified Emergency Physician who has expanded her practice to include Obesity Medicine. She is passionate about the treatment of obesity medicine and pursuing sustainable, goal-oriented
lifestyles. She has undergone extensive training in obesity medicine through Columbia University as well as psychotherapy training in CBT and ACT.
Additionally, she has gained valuable knowledge through obesity medicine mentorships, ongoing medical education and as a past client of The High
Metabolic Clinic.
Dr. Rowe is grateful to be able to spend her free time with her young child,
spouse, extended family and friends.
Brianna Bavota Lead Dietitian, Program Manager
Brianna comes to High Metabolic Clinic with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of dietetics and obesity medicine. Part of her motivation to take a stronger interest in nutrition stems from her education at the University of Guelph where she completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Nutrition. She continued to pursue her passion at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto where she took on a clinical approach to nutrition helping individuals with a variety of chronic and metabolic diseases.
As a Registered Dietitian, Brianna understands that obesity management is more than just the numbers on the scale, it’s about improving the overall health of individuals while guiding them towards their “best” weight. Brianna provides compassionate and inclusive care to clients that respects their experiences, culture, and personal preferences. She helps clients make informed, evidence-based decisions about their health through an individualized coaching approach, centered around your needs and goals. More than anything, Brianna enjoys sharing her passion for healthy eating by working one-on-one with you.
“The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison” – Ann Wigmore
Tedi Nikova MPH, Registered Dietitian
Tedi obtained her Master’s of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Toronto. During her internship, she had the opportunity to work at North York Generals’-Centre for Complex Diabetes Care, where she applied her skills in nutrition therapy for patients diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. Tedi began her dietetics career in the Obesity field, where she applied nutrition therapy combined with behavioural techniques to motivate her patients in achieving a dietary pattern, and lifestyle, that is sustainable and aligned with her patients’ values.
Tedi, additionally, obtained her Specialization in Women’s Health from the Women’s College Hospital, during her master’s degree. Tedi has a passion, and commitment in educating women on the large role of nutrition in common conditions including PCOS, and hypothyroidism. Tedi’s goal is to aid women in gaining their energy, confidence, and ambition, so her patients can show up to life as their best self!
Tedi works collaboratively with patients utilizing motivational counselling, and cognitive behavioural techniques. Tedi is a certified Craving Change Facilitator.
Tedi is additionally a recipe developer, with a niche in creating lower carbohydrate sweet treats! She has a huge passion, and commitment to make healthier desserts taste great!
Julie Mai, Registered Dietitian,Binge Eating Coach
Julie is a Registered Dietitian specializing in eating disorders, weight management, and counselling for health behaviour change. She practices in Ontario as a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics, as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in Dietetics from Western University. She then completed her internship training with Hamilton Health Sciences, where she worked in several areas from the intensive care unit to women’s health clinics.
Julie is also a Certified Life Coach with a background in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-T) for binge eating disorder. Her goal as a Binge Eating Coach is to empower others to work through unhelpful behaviours and beliefs around food. She is an advocate for self love and uses a compassionate approach to support people towards a healthy relationship with food.
Andrea Florez
Office Administrator
Andrea is responsible for overseeing and managing the overall administrative tasks at SashaHighMD. She is passionate about empowering women to take control of their health and well-being. She believes that the combination of medical and coaching programs is an innovative
approach to addressing women's healthcare needs, and she is excited to be part of this mission.
Andrea is deeply passionate about all aspects of human health and finds the brain extremely interesting, so much so that she went back to school to pursue her psychology degree. She sees this field as a vehicle that she can use to help others. Andrea has a background in CBT coaching and extensive customer service experience. She is excited to be part of a team that empowers individuals through comprehensive wellness support because it resonates with her enthusiasm for delivering exceptional service, building meaningful relationships, and promoting overall well-being.
In her spare time, Andrea enjoys exercising, reading about personal growth, and playing pickle ball.
Laurence Laplante, MD FRCPC
Dr. Laurence Laplante is an endocrinologist with an interest in metabolic health. She completed her medical doctorate at University of Sherbrooke and her Internal Medicine and Endocrinology residencies at University of Montreal.
She practices general endocrinology in a community hospital (Centre Hospitalier regional de Lanaudière) as well as in a primary care facility (GMF Clinique familiale des Prairies).
Dr Laplante is also a mom, avid trail runner, and curious traveler. She highly values physical and mental wellbeing, quality of life and self-accomplishment.
Elena Bykova, MD CFPC
Elena Bykova was born in Kiev, Ukraine. Her family immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba where she grew up. She went to medical school at the University of Manitoba followed by her family medicine residency at Western University. After that she moved back to Winnipeg and has been working as a family physician at the Assiniboine Medical Clinic since 2015. She has a special interest in Women’s Health and Obesity Medicine. Outside of work, she can be found spending time with her husband and daughter.
Emilie Bazinet, MD CCFP
Dr Bazinet is a family physician with special interest in Obesity Medicine, Women's health and Allergy Medicine. Dr. Bazinet obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2010. She completed her family medicine residency program at Université de Sherbrooke and obtained her LMCC and CCFP certifications in 2012. She is a member in good standing with the New Brunswick College of Family Physicians and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She is licensed with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. Over the course of her family medicine practice, she has done extra training in Menopause and Obesity. She obtained her NAMS certification as a “North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner” in 2018 and her ABOM diploma in 2019. She is also a co-owner of a local Allergy Clinic. In her free time, she enjoys staying active, the outdoors, travelling and spending quality time with her family and friends!
Michael Mindrum, MD FRCPC
Dr. Michael Mindrum is an assistant professor at Dalhousie University and practices general internal medicine in Kentville, Nova Scotia. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. His clinical practice focuses on obesity medicine as well as the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. He is interested in behaviour change, lifestyle interventions, and program development for chronic disease management. Dr. Mindrum went to the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He did his residency training at the University of Hawaii, University of Vermont, and Dalhousie University. He migrated north to Nova Scotia with his wife, Christa, who is a Newfoundlander. He is a proud father of 3 beautiful and very busy kids.
Elizabeth van Rooyen MD CCFP
Dr Elizabeth van Rooyen was born and raised in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where she also completed her medical studies. Her family moved to Canada in 1998. She relocated to Canada permanently in 2010, first working in Saskatchewan and for the last 10 years working in Alberta.
Dr van Rooyen has a special interest in obesity medicine, dermatology, women’s health, pediatrics, and asthma. Helping people be successful in their own lives, which can look different for everyone, is something she is enthusiastic about.
In her spare time she enjoys creative hobbies, the outdoors and to spend as much time with her husband and kids.
Nicole Smith MD FRCPC
Dr. Nicole Smith is a specialist in General Internal Medicine and practices in Nanaimo, BC both in hospital at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and in her private outpatient clinic. She was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Victoria and went on to complete a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology at UVic as well. She completed her medical training at the University of British Columbia (MD) and her specialist General Internal Medicine residency (FCRPC) also at UBC. She is a Clinical Instructor at UBC.
Her main interests are in cardiology, as well as peri-operative medicine and obesity medicine. She is currently working on her American Board of Obesity Medicine certification (ABOM) and she very much enjoys this patient population and helping them to reach their health goals.
In her personal life, Dr. Smith is a wife and a mother of 2 young boys. She enjoys travel, hiking, biking and exploring beautiful Vancouver Island with her family, whenever she gets the chance.
